Foldable table



Jan. 9', 1968 J. FARISH FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May l5, 1966 l`NVENTOR v Z5/ P EWSIL B Y.' M

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Gce 3,362,355 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 3,362,358 FULDABLE TABLE Jay P. Farish III, Gpelilta, Ala., assignor to Diversied Products Corporation, Opelika, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,966 3 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 112) This invention relates to a foldable table and is more particularly concerned with a table capable of being folded along a central portion thereof and provided with unique hinge members which hingedly secures the inner edges of the table together and also functions to mount roller elements on the table so as to dispose the roller elements in oor engaging relationship when the panels of the table are folded into vertical juxtaposition.

In the past, foldable tables such as ping-pong tables, have been provided with caster mounting brackets which are mounted by screws or bolts on the bottom surfaces of the thin panels, forming the table top, the panels being hinged together along their inner edges. The caster mounting brackets are disposed adjacent the hinged edges of the top panels and are adapted when the panels are folded together to project outwardly from opposite sides thereof, so as to arrange the casters for engagement with the oor. Thus, the prior art ping-pong table may be rolled from place to place when the ping-pong table is in a folded vertically disposed condition.

The prior art brackets for mounting the casters to the -bottom surfaces of the panels are quite bulky, cumbersome, and does not stand up well with use. For example, a shearing force is applied to the bolts or screws of the brackets, tending to loosen them in the thin panels. Furthermore, the prior art tables are relatively expensive and require a relatively longer production time to manufacture.

Briefly described, the present invention which endeavors to overcome the disadvantages described above for the prior art tables includes a gaming table or a pingpong table having a pair of complementary rectangular panels capable of being disposed in coplanar relationship when the table is to be used and in vertical juxtaposition when the table is to be stored. The table also includes suitable legs for supporting the panels in their coplanar relationship. The inventive concept of the present invention includes a particular type of hinge member, one or several of which are secured to the adjacent edges of the panels of the top so as to serve a double function of hingedly securing the panels together and of providing a mounting for the roller elements or casters. The hinge members each include a pair of flat hinge plates, the caster mounting portion of which is offset with respect to the centerline of its associated hinge portion, whereby the casters are disposed in offset relationship to each other so that they move in separate arcuate paths during the movement of the panels from their juxtaposed relationship to their coplanar relationship and from their coplanar relationship to their juxtaposed relationship.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable table which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure, and efficient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable table which is capable of being shipped in a knocked down or disassembled condition and is capable of being assembled by unskilled laborers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable table having a unique hinge member, the hinge member being capable of functioning not only to hinge the parts together but to mount the casters on the table in all positions of the table.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge member for use on a foldable table, the hinge member being capable of receiving casters thereon and being capable of being mounted for hingedly securing the panels of the table top together.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will lbecome apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a foldable table constructed in accordance with the present invention, the panels of the foldable table being disposed in horizontal coplanar relationship, whereby the table may be used;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the table illustrated in FIG. l, the table being shown with its panels in vertical juxtaposed relationship, whereby the table may be rolled along the floor and stored, as desired; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary view showing one corner portion of the table illustrated in F1G.1.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numerals 10l and 11 denote respectively the complementary panels of the table top. Each of panels 10 and 11 is a relatively thin, at, rectangular member, preferably formed of plywood or some other sheet material. The panel 1t), along its bottom surface, is provided with an opened, rectangular, reinforcing frame formed of ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15. The ribs 12 and 14 are disposed parallel to each other while the ribs 13 and 15 are disposed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ribs 12 and 14. The ends of the transverse ribs 13 and 15 are joined by the longitudinal ribs 12 and 14, respectively.

F or reinforcement, the corners of the reinforcing frame are covered by metal lbraces 16.

The reinforcing frame for panel 11 is identical to the reinforcing frame for panel 10 and includes longitudinal ribs 22 and 24 and transverse ribs 23 and 25. The corners of the reinforcing frame for panel 11 are themselves reinforced by braces 26.

It is therefore seen that the outer surface of rib 23 is in a common plane with the outer edge 27 of panel 11 while the outer surface of rib 13 terminates in a common plane with the outer edge of panel 10. In like manner, the outer surfaces of ribs 12 and 22 are disposed in a common plane with the side edges 18 and 28 of the panels 10 and 11 while the ribs 14 and 24 have outer surfaces in a common plane with the opposite edges of panels 10 and 11.

It is important in the present embodiment of the invention herein disclosed that the outer surfaces of the inner transverse ribs 15 and 25 terminate in a common plane respectively with the inner edges 19 and 29 of the planes 10 and 11. It is also significant that since the panels 10 and 11 are identical to each other that when the two panels are disposed in juxtaposition, the outer surfaces of ribs `15 and 25 and the edges 19 and 29 terminate in a common plane along the bottom edge of the folded table.

The table of the present invention is provided with suitable legs so as to support the panels 10 and 11 in their coplanar relationship as illustrated in FIG. l. In the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustration, the panel 10 is provided with an outer leg member 30 and an inner leg member 31 while the panel 11 is provided with only a single outer leg member 32.

The ends of U-shaped leg 30 are respectively pivotably carried by brackets, such as bracket 33, secured to the bottom surface of panel 10, inwardly adjacent rib 13. Leg 32 is in opposed relationship to leg 30 and is pivotably carried in the same manner by brackets 34 secured to the bottom surface of panel 11 inwardly adjacent rib 23.

Foldable, pivotably contacted straps 35 secured between the legs 30, 32 and their respective panels limit the downward and outward movement of the legs 3d, 32, as seen in FIG. l and also maintain the legs in an inwardly folded condition, as illustrated for leg 32 in FIG. 2.

The inner leg 31 is hingedly secured by brackets (not shown) to the bottom surface of panel 10, adjacent rib 15, for folding from an upright portion, ie., beyond the center postion, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to a folded position, fiat against the bottom surface of panel 10. Legs 31 are provided with straps 36, which are similar to and function in the same manner as straps 35.

According to the present invention, I have provided a plurality of laterally spaced hinge members 4f) pvotally joining the inner or adjacent edges 19 and 29 of panels and 11 which unexpectedly, serve a dual function. First, the hinge member or members 4t) serve to secure pivotably the two panels 1G and 11 together. Secondly, these same hinge members 40 function as mounting brackets for the casters or roller elements 41. In so doing, not only are the casters 41 spaced laterally from each other, but substantially all shearing forces on the screws, nuts, and/ or bolts are materially reduced and substantially all destructive forces created by casters 41 on the table are concentrated in the inexpensive and readily replaceable ribs `and 25.

In more detail, each hinge member 40 includes a pair of opposed hinge plates 42, 43, which are both essentially fiat, metal plates.

Plate 42, as best seen in FIG. 3, has an inner edge portion which is bifurcated and rolled so as to provide a pair of spaced journals 45 and 46, the axes of which are aligned, parallel to the plane of plate 42, but disposed downward-ly therefrom. Plate 42 is L-shaped, having parallel leading and trailing side edges 47 and 48, the lead ing edge 47 being approximately twice as long as the trailing edge 48.

Inwardly of and parallel to outer edge 49 is a central, axially extending, edge S0, the outer end of which merges with the outer end of trailing edge 48 and the inner end of which is connected along a central radial edge 51 to the inner end of edge 49. The central radial edge 51 is approximately midway of and parallel to edges 47 and 48, i.e., approximately on the transverse centerline of member 4t). Thus, the edges 47, 49 and 51 define a caster mounting ange of plate 42 which is offset forwardly of the transverse centerline of member 40 and is outwardly of the main body portion of hinge plate 42.

Within the main body portion of hinge plate 42 are a pair of diagonally opposed holes or apertures 52 and 53 through which screws or bolts, such as screw 54, are adapted to pass for screwing plate 42 flat against the surface of rib 1S. Hole 52 is adjacent the corner defined by edges 48 and 50 and hole 53 is adjacent the corner defined by journal 45 and edge 47.

Struck downwardly out of the plane of hinge plate 42 are a pair of spaced parallel radially extending reinforcing ribs 55 and 56, the rib 56 lying parallel to and inwardly adjacent edge 47 on the forward side of hole 53. The rib 55 is more centrally located, lying parallel and adjacent edge 51, on the side of hole 53 opposite that of rib 56.

In the central portion of the caster mounting fiange of plate 42 is a caster mounting hole or aperture 57 which is inradial alignment with and outwardly of hole 53, being also between ribs 55 and 56.

The hinge plate 43, while being similar to hinge plate 42, is nevertheless different. Plate 42 has a central journal 58 which is integrally joined to the inner edge of plate 43 and is of a length to be snugly received in coaxial relationship between the opposed ends of journals 45 and 46.

The pintle or hinge pin 44 passes through journals 45, 58, 46 for hingedly securing plates 42 and 43 together. The axis of pin 44 is being offset downwardly from the plane of plates 42, 43, -when the plates 42, 43 are in coplanar relationship and the inner edges of plate 43 are arranged to bind against journals 45, 46 so that the plates 42, 43 will not open beyond approximately 180 degrees from a position fiat against each other to a position in coplanar relationship.

Outwardly of the hinge journal 58, the plate 43 is substantially identical in shape to hinge plate 42, however, its caster mounting flange is offset rearwardly, and hence hinge plate 43 has a short leading edge 68 and a long trailing edge 47, the end of leading edge merging with the end of the axially disposed central edge 70. The inner end of edge `7) merges with the inner end of the central radially extending edge 61 which runs parallel to edge 67, the outer ends of edges 61 and 67 being joined by outer edge 69.

In the main body portion of plate 43, a hole 72 adjacent the corner defined by edges 68 and 70 and a hole 73 adjacent the corner defined by edge 69 and the inner edge of plate 42 receive bolts or screws, such as screw 54, for securing plate 43 fiat against the surface of rib 25. In the caster mounting fiange of plate 43, the plate 43 is provided with a hole or aperture 77. Reinforcing ribs 75 and 76 extend radially on opposite sides of holes 73,

Y 77 along plate 43.

From an examination of FIG. 3, it will be seen that when plate 42 is mounted on rib 15 and plate 43 is mounted on rib 25, pin 44 is disposed transversely of the table top close t-o the planes of the top surfaces of panels 10 and 11 and in the plane of the contiguous outer surfaces of panels 10 and 11 when the panels are folded against each other.

The width of rib 15 and the thickness of panel 10 is greater than the width of the body portion of plate 42, i.e., less than the distance from pin 44 to the axially disposed edge 50 of plate 42. Likewise, the width of rib 25 plus the thickness of panel 11 is greater than the distance from edge 70 to pin 44. On the other hand, the hinge member 40 is so dimensioned that the caster mounting flanges thereof protrude from beneath or beyond the bottom edges of the ribs 15 and 25.

Preferably pin 44 is equidistant between edges 50 and 70 when the hinge 40 is in a flattened condition. Indeed, preferably pin 44 is equidistant between edges 49 and 69.

The casters or roller elements 41 each include, as seen best in FIG. 3, an externally threaded mounting shaft 80 which projects upwardly from a disc-shaped bearing plate 81, the bearing plate 81 forming the upper race for ball bearings 82. Rotatably secured to bearing plate 81 is a second bearing plate 83 which forms the lower race for ball bearings 81, the bearing plate 83 having a pair of downwardly and outwardly extending arms 84 which carry, therebetween, the horizontal axle 85 on which is mounted roller 86.

It will be understood that the roller 36 is free to rotate about its horizontal axis and that it will trail in the usual way which caster 41 is pulled, due to the fact that the vertical axis about which bearing plate83 is free to rotate is offset from and does not intersect the horizontal axis of roller 86, the vertical axis being aligned with shaft 80.

The exploded View in FIG. 3 of the caster 41 illustrated that the shaft 80 receives a lock washer 87 and then -projects through holes 77, thereafter threadedly receiving the internally threaded nut 88. In like manner, the shaft 80 of the other caster 41 is received through hole 57,

The exploded view in FIG. 3 of the caster 41 illustrates that the shaft 80 receives a lock washer 87 and then projects through hole 77, thereafter threadedly receiving the internally threaded nut 88; in like manner, the shaft 80 of the other caster 41 is received through hole 57.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the present device should be apparent. When it is desired to utilize the table, the legs 30, 31 and 32 are arranged in their extended condition as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the panels and 11 are disposed in coplanar relationship. By such an arrangement, the plates 42 and 43 of each of the hinges 40 are simultaneously brought t0- gether as the panels 10 and 11 are folded to their coplanar relationship. As the plates 42 `and 43 approach each other, pivoting about the hinge pin 44, the opposed casters 41, carried by each of plates 42, 43, being offset laterally with respect to each other, pass each other so that when the plates 42 and 43 are contiguous, i.e., in juxtaposition, one caster 41 which is carried by the plate 42 protrudes beneath the panel 11 while the caster 41 carried by the plate 43 protrudes beneath the panel 10. In such a position, the shafts 80 of the two casters 41 are disposed in horizontal side-by-side relationship beneath the ribs and 25 which are abutting each other.

Ribs 55, 56, and 75, 76 on plates 42 and 43 serve a double function. When the hinge member 40 is in its closed condition (as it would be when the table is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 1), the ribs 55, 56, 75, 76, limit the inward movement of the plates 42 and 43 and cooperating with the offset journals 45, 58, 46, to dispose the plates 42 and43 in parallel relationship so that the panels 1t) and 11 will be in a common Iplane. Furthermore, the ribs 55, 56, 75, 76 reinforce and render rigid that portion of the plates 42 and 43 which function to mount the casters 41. Hence, the plates 42 and 43 may be made of relatively thin sheets of metal.

The U-shaped leg 31 functions, not only as la central support, but, forms when panels 10 and 11 are coplanar, a frame essentially surrounding the exposed portion of the hinge members 40 and casters 41.

When it is desired to store the table of the present invention, the U-shaped legs 30, 31, and 32 are folded against their respective panels 10 and 11, as described above. Thereafter, the panels 10 and |11 are folded upwardly against each other as to open each of the hinge members 40 and dispose the casters 41 in positions for the periphery of rollers 86 to engage the iioor, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Since t-he hinge plates 42 and 43 will not open beyond the 180 degree position, i.e., the coplanar position, essentially all of the stress of the concentrated Weight of the table is carried by the hinge members 40, thereby minimizing the tendency of the hinge members 40 to extract the bolts or screws, such as screw 54, from the ribs 15 and 25. Furthermore, since the ribs 15 and 25 generally are much thicker than the panels 10 and 11, a stronger and more durable table is provided than has heretofore been suggested. Furthermore, since there are no bolts extending horizontally for securing the hinge members 40 in place or for securing the casters 41 in place, there is little or no shearing force applied to the bolts or screws which are utilized and, hence, the weight of the table does not tend to strip out the bolts or screws, as in prior art structures which contain the horizontal bolts or screws.

When the table is folded as illustrated in FIG'. 2, the center of gravity thereof concentrated along the plane defined by the upper surfaces of the panels 10 and 11. Since at least two casters 41 are on at least one side and at least one caster 41 on the other side of the center of gravity, the casters 41 cause the hinge member or members 40 to urge the panels 10 and 11 to their closed condition. A

6 When the table is in the folded vertical condition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is seen that it may be readily rolled in any direction and therefore is easily storable, occupying little floor space, in closets and the like. 5 In manufacture, it is not necessary to hingedly secure panels 10 and 11 together, since the panels and hardware may be shipped separately and readily assembled by unskilled laborers, the laborers simply securing the screws, such as screw 54 in prefabricated holes in ribs 15 and 25, in mounting hinge members 40 in place.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a foldable table of the type including a pair of panels having flat upper surfaces, the inner edges of said panels being disposed adjacent each other, the combination therewith of:

(a) a hinge member having hinge plates pivotally secured together and respectively secured to said inner edges, said hinge plates protruding beyond the lower surface of said panels and pivoting along an axis between t-he inner edges of said panels close to the planes `of said upper surfaces; and

(b) casters secured to said hinge plates in an offset relationship with respect to one another along the axis of pivoting of said hinge plates, said casters including shafts projecting through said hinge plates and nuts threadedly received on said shafts for retaining said casters in place on said hinge plates, and said casters being arranged with respect to said table so that said table is supported by the casters when said panels are in vertical juxtaposition.

2. In a foldable table of the type including a pair of panels having flat upper surfaces, the inner edges of said panels being disposed Iadjacent each other, the combination therewith of:

(a) a hinge member having hinge plates respectively secured to said inner edges of said panels and including interspaced journals along the adjacent edges of said hinge plates and a hinge pin passing through said journals for hingedly securing said hinge plates together, said hinge plates also including caster mounting flanges spaced outwardly from said journals in an offset relationship with respect to one another;

(b) casters carried by at least one of said hinge plates, said casters having a shaft projecting through an aperture dened within said flanges; and

(c) means for securing said shafts of said casters in place Within said apertures.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said panels include reinforcing frames `and said hinge members are 55 respectively secured to said frames.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,239,273 4/1941 Rowe et a1 16-137 2,253,772 8/1941 Edgren 10S-35 2,521,819 9/1950 Baer 16-30 2,535,654 12/1950 Simon 108-50 2,545,064 3/1951 Alch 108-112 2,792,270 5/ 1957 Anderson 108-112 ZUGEL, Prima/y Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDABLE TABLE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A PAIR OF PANELS HAVING FLAT UPPER SURFACES, THE INNER EDGES OF SAID PANELS BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT EACH OTHER, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF: (A) A HINGE MEMBER HAVING HINGE PLATES PIVOTALLY SECURED TOGETHER AND RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID INNER EDGES, SAID HINGE PLATES PROTRUDING BEYOND THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID PANELS AND PIVOTING ALONG AN AXIS BETWEEN THE INNER EDGES OF SAID PANELS CLOSE TO THE PLANES OF SAID UPPER SURFACES; AND (B) CASTERS SECURED TO SAID HINGE PLATES IN AN OFFSET RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG THE AXIS OF PIVOTING OF SAID HINGE PLATES, SAID CASTERS INCLUDING SHAFTS PROJECTING THROUGH SAID HINGE PLATES AND NUTS THREADEDLY RECEIVED ON SAID SHAFTS FOR RETAINING SAID CASTERS IN PLACE ON SAID HINGE PLATES, AND SAID CASTERS BEING ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO SAID TABLE SO THAT SAID TABLE IS SUPPORTED BY THE CASTERS WHEN SAID PANELS ARE IN VERTICAL JUXTAPOSITION. 